Case Detail

CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON v. U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

District

District of Columbia

City

Washington, DC

Case Number

1:2018cv01019

Date Filed

2018-05-01

Date Closed

2018-12-14

Judge

Judge Tanya S. Chutkan

Plaintiff

CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON

Case Description

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington submitted a FOIA request to the EPA for records concerning communications between Administrator Scott Pruitt and the agency's ethics officer. CREW also requested a fee waiver. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and told CREW that its request would not incur fees. Although the agency had identified an individual as the ethics officer, a memo exonerating Pruitt of charges stemming from renting an apartment from a lobbyist contained the name of another individual as the ethics officer. After hearing nothing further from the agency, CREW filed suit.Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zsb) (Entered: 05/02/2018)

2018-05-08

3

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/7/2018. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/6/2018. (Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 05/08/2018)

2018-05-08

4

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY served on 5/7/2018 (Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 05/08/2018)

2018-05-08

5

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 05/07/2018. (Weismann, Anne) (Entered: 05/08/2018)

MINUTE ORDER: Granting 7 Consent Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the complaint by July 6, 2018. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 5/31/18. (DJS) (Entered: 05/31/2018)

MINUTE ORDER: Granting 8 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. Defendant shall answer or otherwise respond to the complaint by July 9, 2018. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/4/18. (DJS) (Entered: 07/04/2018)

MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. The requirements of LCvR 16.3 and Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil procedure appear to be inapplicable. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer and propose a schedule for proceeding in this matter. The schedule shall address the status of Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated number of documents responsive to Plaintiff's FOIA request, the anticipated date(s) for release of the documents requested by Plaintiff, whether a motion for an Open America stay is likely in this case, whether a Vaughn index will be required in this case, whether and when either party anticipates filing a dispositive motion, and any other pertinent issues. The parties shall file a joint status report that addresses these issues and that contains a proposed schedule and proposed order no later than 8/9/18. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 7/17/18. (DJS) (Entered: 07/17/2018)

Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to File by U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Rogers, Joshua) (Entered: 10/31/2018)

2018-11-01

MINUTE ORDER: Granting 11 Motion for Extension of Deadlines. The parties shall file a joint status report by 11/14/18 and every 60 days thereafter. To the extent the parties propose a production schedule and/or briefing schedule, the status report shall include a proposed order. Signed by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan on 11/1/18.(DJS) (Entered: 11/01/2018)